Accelerator mechanism



July 1, .1924.

E. J. BLOOM ACCELERATOR MECHANISM Filed NOV. 2. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet l IE. J. BLOOM ACCELERATOR MECHANISM Filed Nov. 2, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet. 2

lil mf July 1, 1924.

E. J. BLOOM- ACCELERATOR MECHANISM Filed Nov 2, '1923 5 Sheets-Sheep 3Patented July 1, 1924.

EDGAR J. BLOOM,

OF TIFFIN, OHIO.

ACCELERATOR MECHANISM.

: Application filed' Novemberfl, 1923. Serial No. 672,432

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDGAR J. BLooM, a citizenof the United States, residing at Tiflin, in the county of Seneca andState of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Accelerator Mechanism, ofwhich the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to mechanism for use in the'act-uation of theaccelerator of an automobile or other structure utilizing an w internalcombustion engine, one of the obj ects of the invention being toeliminate the foot rest usually employed and to provide a means wherebythe foot'can rest comfortably on the floor board at all times whenoperating the accelerator mechanism.

Another object is to provide a mechanism having a varying leverage orprogressive action whereby during the first portion of the operation themotion is comparatively slow pressure of tllGfOOl'.

uinother object is to provide mechanism of this characteriwhich can beset atany angle so as to adapt it foruse with any ar-- rangement ofparts located adjacent the accelerator, thereby materially reducing thecost of-installation. I Y V A. further object is to reduce the number ofparts and provide a noiseless smooth acting structure which will notbecome clogged.

/Vith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds the invention resides in the comblnation andarrangement of'parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment'of the inventionherein disclosed may be made within the scopeof what is claimed without .departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanyingdrawings the pre-' ferred form of the invention hasbeen shown. In said drawings I Figure 1 is a section through a portionof the present invention combined therewith,

the progressive actionof the lever during the depression of theballbeing illustrated.

Fig. 2'is a bottom plan view of a portion of the leve'r the ball and itshousing, said lever being illustrated'by broken lines in severalpositions to which it may be adjust edangularly.

ig. 3 is-a plan 'view of the hall and its housing.

FlCEf Fig. 4c is a transverse section through a modified form ofstructure, the ball being shown in elevation.

Fig. 5 IS a section on a llne 5-5, Fig. 4:. Fig. 6 is'a transversesectlon through a portion of the attachment and floor board nismcombined with a floor plate having a integral housing. V

Fig. 8 is a view partly'in section and partly in elevation showinganother modification.

Fig. 9 is a side elevationof the flexible cap which can be used forclosing the upper end of the ball of the housing.

Fig. 10 is a section on a reduced scale of anothermodified form.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates thefloor board of an automobile or other structure in which is provided anopening 2 for the reception of a housing 3 fitting snugly therein. Inthe structure illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5 an annular flange 4- isprovided at one end of the housing and is fastened to the floor board byscrews 5 or the like. This housing also has an inwardly extendingannular flange 6 at said end which constitutes aretainer for a ball 7loosely inounted in the housing 3. This hall can be of rubber, wood,metal or, any other suitable niaterial, although in practice it has beenfound that rubber is usually the most desirable because it is noiselessand yields under the pressure of the foot thereagainst. V

Thehousing is provided on its outer face with a longitudinal rib 8projecting into a recess 9 formed in the" wall of the openlever can beconnected adjustably to the accelerator. The otherend of the lever ispreferably extended to form a projecting nose ltwhich, bymoving'upwardly against the wall of the housing 3, will limit the.

downward swinging of the lever.

The lever is normally extended diametri- 'cally'across and in contactwith the end of One end, of the lever may be provided with alongitudinal series of openings 13 whereby said the housing 3, thatportion of the lever adjacent the housing being provided with oppositelyextending flanges 15 providing a rest or support for the ball 7. It isto be understood that the housing can be adjusted angularly within theopening 2 so that the lever 12 can be extended at anydesi'red'an glerelative to the longitudinal center of the floor board as indicated bybroken lines inFig. 2. It is only necessary to so locate the recess 9 asto receive the rib 8 when the parts are in their desired positions.ljhis adjustment of the parts enables the leverf'tobe extei'ided in anydirection where it will be prevented from interfering with thecarburetor rod or other parts that may be adjacentthereto. r

Ashas been illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 the housing'lfi correspondingwith the hous ing" 3 can be formed with longitudinal slots l'F -i andfonthe purpose of holding the housingispacedfrom the wall of the opening18 in floor board 19 a rib 20 can be formed on theia u ular flange 21. oas to project into the openingl8 and, thus hold the housing. centered asshown. By thus forming the housing, there-is no danger of dirt or otherforeign substances accumulating in the housing and.interferingwith theoperation of the ball 22r Under some conditions, as where the floorboard is made of metal asshown at 23 in Fig. 7 the housing 24:. can bemade integral there v-ith and the cars 25, which are integral with thehousing, will support one end of the lever26, on which ball 27 rests.

:On some automobiles it is desirable to em ert a pull through the leverof the accelerator mechanism andfor this purpose the present inventioncan be modified as shown in Fig. 8 wherein an angular lever 28 isfulcrumed' at its angle portion between the ears29 of the housing 30,the pivot being indicated at -31.

-;the ball and conceal it and also protect it from wear and dirt.

In using the device herein described the foot of the operator will restcomfortably on the floor; and by pushing downwardly theballwill becaused to thrust against the lever and thus-setup progressive actionorvariable leverage of the lever. This acting has been clearlyillustrated in Fig. 1. Ag tlherein shown, when the ball'begins itsthrustlng actioniit bears against the lever atga disgar ce from itsfulcrum indicated by it as the=lever moves under e rai sse? the actionof the ball this radius is reduced with the result that when the leverreaches the limit of its movement its point of contact with the ball ismuch nearer the "fulcrum as shown by radius A, the distance designatedby line B being eliminated and the speed "of movement of the leverconsequently gradually increasing during the uniform movement of theball in one direction. This arrangement of the parts gives the ball andthe parts operated thereby an easy action at the beginning of thethrusting action of the ball and renders the structure especiallysuitable for crowded trafiic when .a vehicle is required to move at avery low speed. This speed can be quickly increased by pushing the ballto the full limit of its throw. The progressive action or variableleverage permits of greater range of ball action forslow speeds withoutin any way hindering the full speedaction.v

As is well known the accelerator button is'often very close to the brakepedal and in pushing the brake lever down to its limit the foot oftentouches the accelerator, causing the engine to race and if the clutch isnot disengaged the vehicle will jump forward. This has often causedserious accidents. By using a low operating element such as the ballforming a part of this invention the accidental operation of theaccelerator in the manner described is entirely eliminated as the brakepedal can be pushed far down and still be higher than the ball hereindescribed. I

Because of the low position of the ball it can be operated by anyportion of the foot, thereby making it unnecessary to set the foot in acertain position vin order to actuate the accelerator.

It might be added that the present improvements have been found veryhelpful in laying out a vehicle and locating the starter mechanism. Asthe actuating ball used in the present invention is very much lower thanthe starting button, one cannot be mistaken for the other as happens inthe present car installation utilizing a high accelerator and starterbutton as well as a high foot rest button. The present arrangementallows the starter button to be placed in a more comfortable locationthan heretofore.

It has often been necessary in automobile construction to locate theaccelerator in the floor board at such aposition that it is impossibleto use a straight rod on the carbureter, this being due to theparticular location' of certain parts of the motor directly in front ofthe accelerator. In such cases bends are usually made in the connectingarm or rod of the accelerator and in some cases cross shafts, bellcranks, and the like are necessary to get around the engine to thecarbureter. These bends, shafts, bell cranks of installationis reducedand a smoother working action is secured.

It :will be obvious that by using a ball as.

a-thrust member, several working joints are eliminated and as the ballis fitted loosely in its housing it is not subjected to material wearand consequently the structure is more lasting than heretofore.

' While the improvements are especially designed for use in connectionwith automobiles, it will be understood that they can be employedinconnection with any structure using an engine of the internalcombustion type wherein an accelerator is desirable.

While a ball is preferably used and is the "":*most advantageous meansfor-thrusting against the lever, it'is to be understood that under somecircumstances a push button might be employed in the housing in 'lieuthereof.

If a rug or; matis extended over the accelerator ball, the same "can besuitably marked to indicate the location. of the ball.

Under-some conditions it is desirable to provi'deameans whereby theaccelerator can be operated by hand as is usually the case. To meet thisrequirement the lever 36 can have an eye extended fromits short arm asindicated in Fig. 10 and a wire cable or a rod can be attached to thiseye and to the end of the rod on the steering collar in the usual way.In all other respects the structure illustrated in Fig. 10 can be thesame as those disclosed in the other figures of the drawings.

What is claimed is 1. The combination with an accelerator lever, of ahousing, and a thrust member loosely mounted in the housing andsupported by the lever, said member adapted to impart a varying leverageto the lever, a portion of said member projecting normally from thehousing.

2. The combination with an accelerator lever, of a housing having aninterior retaining flange, a thrust member loosely mounted in thehousing and retained therein by the flange and lever, for imparting avarying leverage to the lever during the movement of the member in onedirection, said member normally projecting from one end of the housing.

3. The combination with a housing, of an accelerator lever fulcrumedthereon, a thrust member within the housing and supported by the leverfor imparting a varying lever age to the lever during the movement ofthe member inone direction, and a flexible closure'extending over thehousing and thrust member.

4. The combination with a housing open at its'ends and having an'apertured wall, of

an accelerator lever, a thrust member loosely mounted within the housingand normally supported by the lever for imparting a varyingleveragethereto during the movement of the member in one direction.

5. The combination with a housing openat its ends andhaving an aperturedwall, of an accelerator lever, a thrust member loosely mounted withinthehousing and normally supported by the lever for imparting avaryingleverage thereto during themovement of the member in one direction, andafleX- ible cover extending over the housing and thrust member.

6. The combination with a housing, of an accelerator lever fulcrumedthereon, coop-l crating means on the housing and leverfor limiting themoven'lent of the lever away' from the bruising, and a-thrust memberloosely mounted with in the housing and normally supported by the leverfor imparting a varying leverage thereto during the movement of themember in one direction.

7..The combination with a housing hav-' ing an interior flange atoneend, said housing being open at both ends, of a lever extendingacrossthoother end of the housing,

retained between the'fiange and lever.

a ball loosely mounted iu the"housingfand 8. The combination with anabcelei'ator" lever. of a housing and a ball loosely "mounted in thehousing and bearing against the lever, a portion of the ballnormally'projecting from the housing.

9. The combination with an accelerator lever, of a housing and a ballloosely mounted in the housing and bearing against the lever, a portionof the ball normally projecting from the housing, and a flexible coverextending over the ball and housing.

10. The combination with an accelerator lever, of a housing havingopenings in the wall thereof, and a push ball loosely mounted in thehousing and supported by the lever, a portion of the ball normallyextendin g from the housing.

11. The combination with an accelerator lever, of a push ball supportedby the lever and means for guiding the ball to impart a progressiveaction to the lever during the actuation of the ball.

12. The combination with a floor board having an opening, of anangularly adjustable housing supported in the opening, an

accelerator lever extending across one end 1 of the housing andadjustable therewith, and a push ball loosely mounted in the housing andengaging the lever, said ball having a portion normally projecting fromthe housing.

13. The combination with a floor board having an opening therein, of anangularly adjustable housing within the opening, co-

' operating means upon the housing and floor board for holding thehousing against rotation, an accelerator lever adjustable angularly withthe housing and extending thereacross, and a push ball loosely mountedwithin the housing. i

14. The combination with afioor board having an opening, of a housing.supported within the opening and having apertures in the wall thereof,an accelerator lever extending across one end of the housing, and a pushball loosely mounted within the housing and normally engaging the lever,a por tion of the ball projecting normally from the housing.

15. The combination with a floor board having an opening, of a housingextending from'the floor board, an accelerator lever extending acrossone end of the housing, and a push ball loosely mounted in the housingand bearing against the lever, a portion of the ball normally projectingfrom the housing.

.16. The combination with a floor board having an opening, of a housingextending from the floor board, a retaining flange within one endportion of the housing, an accelerator lever extending across the otherend portion of the housing, and a push ball loosely mounted in thehousing between the flange and lever and extending from the 5 floorboard.

17. The combination with a floor board neeaeae having an opening, or ahousing extending from the floorv board, a retaining flange Within oneend portion of the housing, an accelerator lever extending across theother end portion of the housing, a push ball loosely mounted in thehousing between the flange and lever and extending from the floor board,and a flexible cover extending over the push ball to close the housing.

18. The combination with an accelerator lever, of. a .jhousi'ng, :andmeans movably mounted 'intheihousing for imparting a varying leverage tothe lever during the movement of said means.

19. The combinationwith a housing, of an accelerator lever havingoppositely extending arms, one of said arms extending across thehousing, operating means movably mounted in the housing, and depressibletherein to impart a varying leverage to the lever, means on one arm ofthe lever for engagement with an actuating device, the other arm of thelever constituting means for connection to an accelerator.

20. The combination with an accelerator lever, of a push membersupported by the lever and means for guiding said member to impart avarying leverage to the lever during the actuation of the member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto'aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDGAR J. BLOOM.

'Witnesses:

CHARLES E. Drum, H. V. BOWMAN.

